Recipient needle mounting



Nov. 29, 1955 T. H. GEwEcKE RECIPIENT NEEDLE MOUNTING Filed July 7, 1954 IN1/EN TOR.

Www@- 2,725,055* p RECIPIENT NEEDLE MOUNTING Theodore H. Gewecke, Glenview, Ill., assignor to Baxter Laboratories, Inc., Morton Grove, Ill.

Application `luly 7, 1954, Serial No. 441,896

4 Claims. (Cl. 12S-214) This invention relates to the mounting of a recipient needle in a parenteral administration set, and more particularly, to the mounting of the recipient needle in a parenteral administration set when the same in incorporated into a package prior to use.

In the field of parenteral therapy, the parenteral solution is generally conducted from its source in a glass container to the body of the patient by means of an administration set. The administration set generally includes a length of exible tubing with means attached to one end capable of insertion into the source of parenteral liquid, and puncture means generally in the form of a hypodermic needle attached to the other end for insertion into the body of the recipient. In the past administration sets have been provided with the hypodermic needle referred to above removably mounted on the flexible tubing by means of a needle hub, and with the sharp point of the needle directed outwardly of the tubing so as to permit immediate puncture of the body of the patient.

In many instances, however, it is necessary to determine Whether or not a vein is punctured before the administration is begun. Some solutions are adapted to be introduced only subcutaneously so that danger to the life of the patient would result if such solution were introduced intravenously. In a similar fashion, certain solutions are required to be introduced intravenously rather than subcutaneously. In these instances, it is necessary to ascertain whether the body puncture has occurred in the proper place. A common practice for such ascertainment has been to remove the hypodermic needle from the administration set and aflix it to a hypodermic syringe. The patient then has the hypodermic needle inserted into his body and the plunger of the syringe manipulated in order to ascertain whether a vein has been punctured. If the desired type puncture has been made, the syringe is then removed from the inserted needle; the tubing of the administration set is reconnected to the inserted needle and the administration begun.

In as much as it is highly desirable that the internal or conduit portion of a parenteral administration set be sterile, it is apparent that such removal of the needle from its mounting means on the flexible tubing is disadvantageous in that it permits contamination of the administration set in addition to being time consuming. A second disadvantage of the type of mounting of the hypodermic needle currently employed is that a protector piece of substantial length and substantial thickness must be provided for the hypodermic needle in order to insure the maintenance of sterility.

It is an object of my invention to provide a simpler mounting for a hypodermic needle in a parenteral administration set prior to the use thereof in parenteral administration. Another object is to provide a cheaper form of mounting of a hypodermic needle in a parenteral administration set when the same is in packaged form. Other objects and advantages of my invention will be seen l.as the specification proceeds.

Essentially, my invention includes the provision of a parenteral administration set wherein the hypodermic needle is inserted into the flexible tubing with its sharpened end directed inwardly of the tubing.

My vinvention will be explained in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is an elevational view of a parenteral administration apparatus; and Fig. 2 is an elevational view, partially in section, of the parenteral needle portion of Fig. l showing the mounting of my invention.

Referring now to Fig. l, numeral 10 designates a glass container containing a parenteral iluid. In the usual administration procedure, container 10 is suspended in a mouth-downward condition, and leading from the downwardly disposed mouth of container 10 is parenteral administration set 11, which is provided with recipient puncturing means 12, which is adapted to be inserted into the body of a patient (not shown) receiving the parenteral therapy.

Prior to the use of a parenteral administration set 11 as indicated in Fig. l, the administration set is contained in some kind of packaging means, and it is to the parenteral administration set in that state that my invention pertains. This can be seen more clearly by referring to Fig. 2, in which only the body puncture end 12 of set 11 as shown in Fig. 1 is shown in larger scale.

In Fig. 2, numeral 13 refers to the exible tubing of the administration set. Inserted into the end of tubing 13 is an adapter 14 which in the preferred embodiment is of a plastic material. Inserted into the protruding end of adapter 14 is hypodermic needle 15 with its sharp or puncturing end, 15a, pointed inwardly of tubing 13, and with its hub or shank end, 15b, pointed away from or outwardly of tubing 13. The hub 15b of hypodermic needle 15 is adapted to receive the protruding end of adapter 14 so as to provide an airtight attachment of needle 15 to adapter 14 and, in turn, to tubing 13. Thus, a continuous passage is provided for the parenteral solution. Mounted on the protruding portion of adapter 14 is needle protector sleeve 16.

It is immediately apparent that the length of protector sleeve 16 is substantially less in the form of mounting of parenteral needle 15 shown in Fig. 2 than the length required in that type of mounting wherein the needle has its puncturing end directed away from tubing 13 and adapter 14. In addition, protector sleeve 16 may be constructed of thinner and less stitf walls in as much as it has only to prevent contamination of the set rather than prevent the sharp end of needle 15 from puncturing through the protector to the atmosphere.

In the preferred embodiment, the portion 14a of adapter piece 14 internal of tubing 13 is of suiiicient length to extend beyond the sharpened end 15a of needle 15 so as to provide protection against inadvertent puncture of tubing 13.

The foregoing detailed description has been set down for clearance of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be inferred therefrom, as modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. In a parenteral administration set, a hypodermic needle mounting comprising a length of flexible tubing. needle attachment means afHXed to one end of said tubing, a hypodermic needle removably mounted in said tubing with its sharpened end extending inwardly of said tubing and removable means for enclosing the end of said tubing.

2. In a parenteral administration set, a hypodermic needle mounting comprising a length of iiexible tubing, a tubular adapter inserted into the recipient end of said tubing, a hypodermic needle provided at one end with a sharpened point adapted to be inserted into the body ot' a patient and at the other end with a shank capable of receiving the protruding end of said adapter whereby an airtight engagement is provided, the sharp end of said needle being inserted into said adapter, and a protector sleeve having a closed end mounted on the protruding portion of said adapter.

3. A mounting of the character described in claim 2 wherein said adapter is of a length suicient to extend inwardly beyond the sharpened end of said needle.

4. In a parenteral administration set, a hypodermic needle mounting comprising a length of exible tubing, 1

n i 4 needle adapter means affixed to one end of said tubing, a hypodermic needle removably mounted in said adapter means with its sharpened end extending inwardly of said adapter means, and removable means covering the sterile 5 surfaces of said needle and said adapter means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Jones Dec. 14, 1948 

